81 An Invitation to Intrigue
81 An Invitation to Intrigue
Again, that brief hesitation, followed by a small smile. “That would be lovely”
“Beck Lawson.”
When I returned to the table, Elara looked up with a questioning smile. “Everything okay?”
Three hours later, Shanice and I stepped onto Lucas Sterling’s ostentatious yacht, “The Golden Opportunity.” The name was as subtle as its owner.
Beck’s POV
Shanice clung to my hand, suddenly shy among the crowd of well–dressed adults milling about the deck. Her earlier enthusiasm had dampened in the face of reality.
I checked my watch. “It is lunchtime. Would you like to join us, Elara? There’s a nice little place just outside the park.”
Shanice’s face fell immediately. “Already? But we were having so much fun!”
The girl–Coco–noticed Shanice immediately. Breaking away from Vivienne, she approached us with confident steps.
Lunch passed pleasantly, with Shanice dominating the conversation. I noticed Elara carefully steered topics away from herself, instead asking Shanice about school and her interests. A practiced deflection.
Shanice immediately jumped at the idea. “Yes! Can Ms. Elara come too?”
“Just work,” I replied, sitting down. “Nothing that can’t wait.”
That gave me pause. Damien Thorne rarely expressed interest in anyone’s attendance unless he had a specific reason.
“Blue, and I think the universe is too vast for us to be alone,” Elara answered with surprising seriousness.
Lucas sighed dramatically. “Fine. But you have to come to the yacht party tonight. Non–negotiable.”
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Elara hesitated, glancing at her watch. “I don’t know if I should…”
“Excuse me,” I said, stepping away from the table.
Shanice perked up slightly. “Really? Like a fun party?”
We watched as she walked back to her car–a sleek silver Mercedes that confirmed my suspicions about her identity. She waved once before driving away.
“I hope so,” I murmured, though my expectations were considerably lower.
By the time we reached home, Shanice was drowsy from the afternoon’s activities. “Can we take a nap?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.
“I like her,” Shanice declared as we headed to my own car. “She makes me feel happy
inside.”
I sensed the topic was sensitive and didn’t press further. Instead, I focused on helping Shanice spot a turtle sunning itself on a rock near the shore.
Something flickered in her eyes. “I have a daughter.”
After we’d finished eating, we returned to the park for a final hour of play. Shanice’s energy seemed inexhaustible as she dragged Elara from the kite hill to the playground.
“Would you like to try the paddleboats?” I suggested, pointing toward the small lake at the center of the park.
“I know, sweetie. I had a wonderful time with you.” Elara knelt to Shanice’s level. “Thank you
for letting me fly kites with you.”
The mention of Coco Thorne–presumably Damien’s daughter–made me glance again at Elara. Something clicked into place. Elara Vance. Could she be Elara Thorne, Damien’s estranged wife? The gossip columns had been buzzing about their impending divorce for weeks.
“The pleasure was ours,” I replied honestly. “Drive safely, Elara.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I said noncommittally before hanging up.
After a moment’s hesitation, Shanice nodded. “Okay.”
I saw Elara’s expression soften as she carefully returned the hug. “I’d like that.”
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The restaurant was a casual waterfront café with outdoor seating. Shanice insisted on sitting next to Elara, asking her endless questions about everything from her favorite color to whether she believed in aliens.
Elara’s laugh when Shanice tried to paddle and nearly steered us into a fountain was genuine and unguarded. It transformed her face completely.
After ensuring Shanice was settled for her nap, I made a quick call to confirm our attendance at Lucas’s yacht party. If Damien Thorne was specifically asking about me, I needed to know why,
“Can we feed them?” she asked, looking between us.
There was something captivating about Elara Vance. Despite her designer clothes and the expensive car I’d spotted her arriving in, there was an unexpected approachability about her. The sadness in her eyes hadn’t escaped my notice either.
Shanice threw her arms around Elara’s neck in an impulsive hug. “Will you come again
sometime?”
“Bring the kid! There’s plenty of room. Damien brought his daughter too.”
By the time we returned to the dock, Shanice had thoroughly bonded with Elara. They fed the ducks together, Shanice giggling as the birds quacked and jostled for position.
“Care for a drink?” he asked, his gray eyes assessing me with unsettling intensity.
“It’s important, Beck. Some potential investors will be there. Damien specifically asked if you’d be attending.”
“She’s not a babysitting job,” I replied tersely.
I watched as Coco led Shanice below deck, surprised by the older girl’s kindness. From what little I knew of the Thorne family dynamics, I hadn’t expected such
consideration.
Something in her expression shifted–a decision being made. “Actually, I’d love to join you both.”
“That’s because Ms. Elara showed me the trick.” Shanice beamed at Elara, who smiled back with genuine warmth.
“Didn’t take you for the babysitting type,” Lucas commented, handing me a glass of
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champagne.
“Hi! I’m Coco. Do you want to come play with us? There’s a games room below deck
where all the kids are”
“I don’t-”
“There’s a feeding station near the dock,” I explained. “We can stop there on our way back.”
Twenty minutes later, we were gliding across the small lake in a swan–shaped paddleboat. Shanice sat between us, pointing excitedly at the ducks that swam nearby.
“Beck! Where are you, man?” Lucas’s voice boomed through the speaker.
“It’ll be fun,” Shanice insisted, already beginning to reel in her kite with surprising efficiency.
We both turned at the sound of the deep, authoritative voice. Damien Thorne stood before us, impeccably dressed in a tailored navy suit. His expression was unreadable as he extended a hand, offering me a glass of red wine.
“Sure thing, kiddo. But not for too long. We have somewhere to be this evening.”
Our food had just arrived when my phone buzzed. Lucas Sterling’s name flashed on the screen. I considered ignoring it, but the call might be important.
When she stood, our eyes met over Shanice’s head. “Thank you for today,” she said quietly. “I needed this more than you know.”
“What time?” I relented.
Eventually, Elara glanced at her watch with obvious reluctance. “I should probably get going.”
“You need to keep your feet steady,” she advised, demonstrating the proper technique.
“She seems nice,” I agreed, helping Shanice with her seatbelt.
Lucas spotted us immediately, cocktail already in hand. “Beck! You made it.” His gaze dropped to Shanice. “And you brought the little lady. Perfect timing–Vivienne just arrived with Coco.”
“Having lunch. What’s up?”
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The afternoon sun cast a golden hue across the park as Shanice continued flying her butterfly kite with unexpected skill. Elara stood nearby, occasionally offering gentle guidance that Shanice eagerly followed. I couldn’t help but notice how Elara’s entire demeanor had softened since we’d first encountered her.
“Like this?” Shanice attempted to mimic her movements.
“Not happening, Lucas.” My tone left no room for argument. “We already have plans.”
“Beck, look how high it’s going!” Shanice called out, her face bright with excitement.
“A party on a boat. There will be other children there.”
“You’re very good with children,” I commented.
“Seven. Bring Shanice if you need to. Coco Thorne will be there–they can play together.”
As if on cue, a striking woman in a crimson dress descended the stairs to the main deck, holding the hand of a girl a few years older than Shanice. Vivienne Dubois. I’d seen her in countless society pages, always on Damien Thorne’s arm.
I nodded approvingly. “You’re a natural.”
“I’m getting hungry,” Shanice announced after we’d finished our duck–feeding adventure.
I found myself watching Elara more than the scenery. There was a grace to her movements, a quiet strength beneath her reserved exterior. When she caught me looking, I didn’t glance away.
“Where?” She yawned widely.
She nodded, her paddle dipping into the water with more force than necessary. “Yes.”
Before I could respond, Shanice had already turned to Elara with pleading eyes. “Will you? Please?”
I stepped closer to Elara. “No pressure. We understand if you need to be somewhere.”
“Perfect.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow but didn’t pursue the matter. “So, big news about the Peterson contract. Damien thinks-”
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“The one who’s with her father today?”
“We’re getting seafood at Marina Bay. Damien Thorne is here. You should join us.”
Shanice looked up at me uncertainly, I gave her hand an encouraging squeeze. “Go ahead if you want to.”
I glanced back at the table where Elara was helping Shanice cut her grilled cheese sandwich into manageable pieces. “Can’t today. I’m with Shanice.”
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